July 2, 2025 – History of America and Her Independence

Mercy Every Minute

Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor

A Free Unit Study

Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” We must impart this critical knowledge, and uphold this blessing of freedom for our children and our grandchildren. Here is a free short unit study on Freedom. Print this out and start working on it as a family right away! 

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary definition of the word, freedom:
1. A state of exemption from the power or control of another; liberty; exemption from slavery, servitude or confinement. Freedom is personal, civil, political, and religious. 

Copywork:
All we have of freedom, all we use or know, this our fathers bought for us long and long ago.—Rudyard Kipling, The Old Issue, 1899

For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail?—Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, vol. 9 (Poems) [1909]

From every mountain side, let freedom ring. —Samuel F. Smith, America 1832

The Pledge of Allegiance. Find the story of the pledge here: www.homeofheroes.com/flag-of-freedom/pledge-of-allegiance/  and a free printable here: pledge-of-allegiance-free-printable-1.jpg (600×895) (homeofheroes.com)

Living History Books: real life stories/biographies: Sergeant York, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Corrie ten Boom, Louis Zamporini, and many more. YWAM Heroes of History series is a good resource.

Coloring Pages:
Independence Day (4^th of July) http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/holidays/independence-day-4th-of-july 

Scriptures on Freedom:
Galatians 5:13,14
1 Peter 2:15-17
James 1:25
Psalm 33:12
Isaiah 61:1 (then read its fulfillment in Luke 4:16-21)

Prayer: 
Thank God for the many who paved the way before us to be able to live in freedom and to homeschool our children in peace. Pray for our leaders. Pray for continued freedom as you keep your children Home. In Freedom. Where They Belong.

~ Deborah

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“I dearly love your books. They are some of the finest, yet simplest, teaching materials available.” https://bellerophonbooks.com

Adam and Dianne Riveiro

A Constitutional Republic. It Matters!

We’re blessed to live in an area of the country that’s absolutely saturated with American history. From our home in Easton, Massachusetts, we live about thirty minutes from Boston, forty minutes from Plymouth, and forty‑five minutes from Lexington and Concord. I love history, so it’s an incredible place to live.

As such, I want to encourage you to immerse your learners in American history. I know world history is important (and often neglected or ignored entirely), but as Americans, wouldn’t you agree that there’s a functional illiteracy today about our history? And hasn’t that ignorance had direct consequences on the public’s understanding of our unique form of government?

All this brings me to a reminder: America is not a democracy, it’s a constitutional republic. While you may think there’s little difference between the two, I’d argue that there’s a great difference. A democracy is a simple rule by majority, while a constitutional republic is a representative form of government with greater checks and balances.

Why is this important? Think the electoral college, the separation of powers, protections of the minority viewpoint against the majority viewpoint . . . just to name a few. Teaching American history to your learners helps them have perspective in regard to American civics and citizenship. Don’t miss it!

-Adam

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About the author

Pastor Adam and Dianne Riveiro live in Easton, Massachusetts, where Adam serves as the pastor of Liberty Baptist Church. Together, they’ve authored several books, including their newest book Ministering to YOUR Children with Special Needs, published by Ready Scribe Publications. Parents to four amazing kids—Bethany, Kaylee, AJ, and Peyton—the Riveiros are deeply committed to helping special needs families discover joy and contentment through Christ.

The American Heritage Education Foundation (AHEF) provides FREE, award-winning, downloadable, patriotic K-12 Lesson Plans for homeschoolers on America’s founding documents, history, & philosophy. Visit www.americanheritage.org.

Heather Vogler

Free to Explore

The dining hall was beginning to clear out. My college friend sat across the table with a patient smile, wondering if I would take her up on her offer. “I’ll consider it,” I hesitantly replied and rushed off to class. Joining her for a full-semester study abroad program sounded adventurous, but I had just settled into a comfortable routine on the main campus—did I really want to uproot? Nervously, I signed up—experiencing the semester of my life. The opportunity was there. I just needed to take it.

What if the early American explorers opted to stay in their homeland, never venturing out across the Atlantic? What if our founding fathers never took a stand against tyranny? How much freedom would we have available to us today? Sometimes the doubts and fears that we face can cause us to pull back into a familiar routine. The routine feels safe. It feels comfortable. The unknown is what scares us—but what if the unknown is exactly what we need? Exactly what our children need. The founding fathers of America thought ahead of the generations to come, and as homeschooling families, so should we. We want the best possible experiences for our children, so are we willing to take a step into the unknown and explore uncharted territory, if not for us, then for them? 

Maybe homeschooling is new to you. Taking that first step felt like a giant leap. Maybe boxed curriculum is all you have ever known, but friends are encouraging you to try a different method, even if just for that one child. Routines are helpful but are they hindering opportunities for exploration right in front of you? If you feel the Lord nudging you to explore a new opportunity, will you at least consider it? You might just end up having the semester (or years) of your life!

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About the author

Heather Vogler, her husband, and five children call the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia home where they homeschool and homestead. Heather has homeschooled her children from the beginning and enjoys an eclectic style of teaching. As a freelance writer she has been published in Focus on the Family Magazine, War Cry Magazine, and Brio Magazine. Heather holds a BA in Christian Ministries and currently writes at ThriftSchooling.com.  

Beth Mora

Let Freedom Ring Again and Again

This Fourth of July, my family, like yours, will enjoy a backyard barbecue and ooh and ah at a spectacular fireworks display as “God Bless the U.S.A.” is played. I will happily admit that I can’t get through the day without a few tears of gratefulness and love for the country where God has chosen to place me on this earth. 

I love the story of America and her independence. Before becoming a home educator, I knew very little about how it happened. Dig deep, my friend, and discover with your children the miracles of the birth of a nation. 

I love this country. Thanks to speaking at many different home school conventions, I have been blessed to understand that the United States is just that: individual united states. Each has its own landscape, culture, foods, and dialects. I love all the people who represent America. Unfold the beauty of our land and its people for your children to marvel at. 

I love the symbols of America. My first glimpse of Lady Liberty caused my heart to pound and my imagination to soar as I thought about everyone waving to her as they entered her port. Although preserved in silence at the museum, the Liberty Bell still rings her call to freedom.  Stand proud as you tell the story of our flag, which bears the stars and stripes, each representing the forging of our nation. 

I love the brave men and women who serve to protect. Our military is one of the finest examples of service above self, values I cherish and pass on to my children. 

I love our leaders, not because they are good, but because they belong to the same club as me, The All-Have-Sinned Club, and they need God’s grace and our prayers. 

I love our American history, all of it, good and bad, because it contains the lessons for the future that the next generation, our children, desperately need. 

When we teach our children every aspect of American history, we let freedom ring again and again. So read those stories, visit those places, sing her songs, pray for her and her leaders, and yes, stay up late to ooh and ah over every multicolored loud fireworks display. 

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About the author

Beth Mora is a staff writer for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC and lesson designer for www.Schoolhouseteachers.com. She is the creator/teacher-on-camera for Here to Help Learning’s Homeschool Writing Program Grades 1-6, and a homeschool conference and women’s events speaker. Meet up with Beth at Home To Home, one of her favorite places to encourage. Everything she does, whether laughable or heart-gripping, is done to honor her Lord and Savior, Jesus. God’s grace is the salve that has healed her own life and is what she offers liberally to others.

Celebrate Independence Day by exploring the foundations of American freedom! SchoolhouseTeachers.com offers engaging history courses like Drive Thru History: American History. This course brings to life the people and events that shaped our nation—perfect for summer learning!

Monthly Goals and Month-at-a-Glance Planner PDFs

This month we’ve gathered these free resources from SchoolhouseTeachers.com to help you get organized with the Monthly Goals and Month-at-a-Glance Planner PDFs. Download and make as many copies as you need for the upcoming year, and stay on track with ease. Grab yours today! Be sure to check out more FREE help charts available from SchoolhouseTeachers.com